Should recruiting duty be a 2-year tour of duty (like drill sergeant duty)?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 Dec 2017 09:40:50 -0500

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Dec 25 at 2017 10:46 AM

SSG Edward Tilton — Mon, 25 Dec 2017 10:46:51 -0500

No, the training required, the turnover, and problems involved are too great. You would be training one and as soon as that is over train his replacement

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 25 at 2017 11:06 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 Dec 2017 11:06:56 -0500

Yes your right. But think about this. A recruiters highest producing year is his 2nd and the lowest is the 3rd year. Plus it's not the responsibility of the other recruiters to train that is the Center Leaders job, as well as the person themself. Just seems pointless to keep someone an extra year.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 25 at 2017 1:37 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 Dec 2017 13:37:08 -0500

I just spent 10 years as an AGR Recruiter. It is definitely one of the hardest duties I ever did. I went back to TPU in order to reclassify to 79V Reserve Career Counselor. 2 years sounds good but will never happen.

Response by SFC Fred Youngs made Dec 25 at 2017 5:19 PM

SFC Fred Youngs — Mon, 25 Dec 2017 17:19:57 -0500

OK, Here is my 2 Cents worth! I served 24 Years 1974 - 1998 in 2006 I was Recalled out of Retirement I served at A.P.G., Md. wound up being a NCOIC and Platoon Sgt. good times Old Dawgs can learn New Tricks. Now why am I writing this someone dropped dime on me and informed Recruiting Command that I wanted to be a Recruiter! LOL I was on my way home from Ft. Hood my wife and I were on our way home she headed to Afghanistan. MSG calls me and offers me Job as a Recruiter I was 52 when I Graduated from School I could only do 2 years 1st year was "Bitch" 2nd year was much better I wanted to stay 3rd year and someone at Recruiting Command said No. 2 Years you are just getting into the Job and what to do to get Johnny or Jane into the Army. I wish I could have stated for 3rd. Yes it was hard, Yes it was long hours, Yes I made it Fun and I am Glad I did it.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 26 at 2017 8:10 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 26 Dec 2017 20:10:04 -0500

Why?

I've done both, what's to be gained?

Response by LTC Charles T Dalbec made Dec 27 at 2017 12:32 PM

LTC Charles T Dalbec — Wed, 27 Dec 2017 12:32:50 -0500

Yes every NCO should perform as Recruiter for at least two years...this will help round out the NCO and give them pre-requisite knowledge of one of the most difficult jobs in the military. Having been a former OOE40, USAREC Operations Officer, and DA HR incentive program manager, and Readiness Manager and XO for the DCG!!!

Response by LTC Charles T Dalbec made Dec 27 at 2017 12:35 PM

LTC Charles T Dalbec — Wed, 27 Dec 2017 12:35:23 -0500

Hooah!!!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2017 11:55 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 27 Dec 2017 23:55:22 -0500

Definitely not. You need some time to find your way into the groove. The 3 years gives you an opportunity to actually become productive.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 28 at 2017 3:38 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 03:38:41 -0500

I was in the West Chicago Suburbs. My opinion is that three years isn't long enough, I feel as though recruiting, in general, should be reserved for 79R's and that detailed recruiters should be removed from the mix. In today's climate, it would never work though. Although there have been many changes to standards of conduct for leadership, what I hear from those still in the fight is that the detailed recruiters are still looked at as expendable trash (ie. why does a brigade commander need to send a reminder that the CG's holiday work hours are mandatory and center commanders cannot impose an extra workload above the CG' s guidance). If the active force recruited similarly to the national guard, the job wouldn't be as stressful, nor as resource intensive. It's hard to become a valued member of a community in only a year or two. By the time you're established, you are on your way out.

On another note, I was lucky. My CC looked out for his team even at a personal cost. Though in USAREC, that type of leadership is rare.

Response by SFC Kenneth G. made Jan 3 at 2018 9:19 AM

SFC Kenneth G. — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 09:19:34 -0500

I did both Drill Sergeant and Recruiting. 2 years as a Drill Sergeant at Fort Sill, Oklahoma (Basic Training). I volunteered for recruiting and after 2 years, I converted to 79R because I was within 3 years of retirement and didn't want to move anymore. I became a Station Commander of a small station for a year and then took charge of a large station. As an NCO, I was brought up to face any challenge that was put in front of me and attack it with diligence. That is what NCO's are supposed to do. Do we have a new Army? Has it changed that much? I have been retired for 18 years now but an NCO is still an NCO and is the backbone of the Army, not there to bellyache about how long his deployment is on special duty. If you get selected, you should be honored that the Army thought that highly of you to out your butt out there in the public to represent the Army. I think the amount of time specified by the Army now is the correct time and it should be accepted by the NCO and he/she should act as an NCO and be professional at all times in the performance of the job.

Response by SFC Francisco Roman made Feb 25 at 2018 9:24 PM

SFC Francisco Roman — Sun, 25 Feb 2018 21:24:39 -0500

I believe it's up to the situation of the NCO

Response by MSG Danny Mathers made Jul 7 at 2018 12:01 PM

MSG Danny Mathers — Sat, 07 Jul 2018 12:01:45 -0400

Hell no! Recruting can be carrer breaker. I knew many NCOs that were selected and told horor stories of quotas, threats from commanders and hours above and beyond just to survive the assignment. I believe it should be a terminal assignment before retirement. Very few NCOs were good at it which location had a huge part in making goals. You had to be not only a excellent salesman but a damn goods bullshitter to succeed. Opinions vary........

Response by LTC Charles T Dalbec made Feb 24 at 2019 10:57 AM

LTC Charles T Dalbec — Sun, 24 Feb 2019 10:57:13 -0500

The needs of the Army dictate here

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2019 12:41 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 24 Feb 2019 12:41:50 -0500

You can serve only 2 years if you have a good reason to get out early. You technically owe 2 for becoming a recruiter, but the tour is 3, so you can escape early. Usually it's a reason like SOF, WOCS, OCS. Etc... you're gonna do a major change and timing matters.
We sent people to selection at 18 mo time in recruiting so they can pcs at their 2 year mark.

Response by SFC Kenneth G. made Feb 25 at 2019 6:55 AM

SFC Kenneth G. — Mon, 25 Feb 2019 06:55:02 -0500

There were Sergeants who liked it and there were Sergeants who despised recruiting duty. I volunteered for Recruiting duty and I thought at first, what the hell had I volunteered for? But after the first few months of getting out into the public and talking with people I found it to be inspiring about talking about the Army and what it had to offer. It took me about a year to develop my rhythm and after that I was on a roll. I think that 3 years is a fair amount of time to serve in Recruiting because although it is stressful at times, it is also rewarding. There are down times when you can relax and just go out and speak in schools and have luncheons to speak with public officials. These are the key people in your efforts to recruiting. Establishing you area will take about 2 years. You can take the next year to prosper. Enjoy recruiting and you will be rewarded.